Fuel tank



NOV. 10 1931. KRASNODMSKY 1,831,418

FUEL TANK Filed Jan. 1, 1931 Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN KRASNODMSKY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR F FIFTEEN PER CENT 4 TO ANTON J. KOSS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN FUEL TANK Application filed January 1, 1931. Serial No. 505,992.

This invention relates to improvements in fuel tanks, and more particularly to an improved type of tank adapted for use for containing combustible fuel.

5 One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of an improved typeof fuel tank adapted for use on aeroplanes, or motor boats, and wherever fuel is to be stored: or

carried, which is so constructed as to'relieve o the body of the tank from unusual expansion of the gases arising from the fuel therein, and also to relieve the expansion due to an explosion in the tank to reduce to a minimum any bursting of the tank due to expansion of the fuel therein. 7

Another object of the present inventionis the provision of an improved type of fuel tank wherein the tank is provided for the es cape of the expanded gases within the tank, and'to convey these gasesoff from the body of the tank to not only reduce to a minimum the chances of explosion of such gases, but to relieve expansion in the tank due to ex pansion of the gases "therein for preventing the bursting of the tank and causing serious injury to any persons who happen-in the close vicinity of the tank.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a tank for combustible fuel having two sets of outlets controlled by spring retained valves wherein the valves controlling one of said outlets are retained in a seated position by a comparatively light weight spring for causing the expansion of the second outlet, and the valvescontrolling the second outlet are normally maintained in a seated position by means of springs which are somewhat heavier than the springs controlling the first set ofv valves, so as to reduce to a minimum the force of the expans1on. 4 1 v With the above and other objects inview, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully set forth,- pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

c Figurel is a plan view of a combustible 50 fuel tank constructed in accordance withmy some of the gases to be spent before reaching invention. with parts thereof broken away and illustrated in cross section;

Figure 2 is aside elevation with parts broken away and illustrated in. longitudinal section;

7 Figure 3 ,is a sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2. l Referring more particularly to the drawlngs, 1 indicates the main body portion of the tank which'is reinforced by means of the longitudinal'rods Qand the spaced vertical rods 8. This tank is especially adapted for use for containing the fuel for aeroplanes,

although it can be used equally as well as a- 7 fuel supply tank for motor boats and wherever fuelis to-be stored or carried.

Arranged at each end of the tank upon the interior thereof is an inset chamber or housing a which opens up through the top of the body 1 as shown in Figure 2, and has a reopen upper portion of the housing. Leading out from one end of the housing is a conduit 6 which has a straight portion 7 pass ing-through an aperture in the end wall'of thebodyl. I

7 It will be noted that a housing or chamber 1 is provided at each end of the main fuel tank 1 and upon the outside of the end portions of the main tank are the housings 8 into which extend the straight end portions 7 of the conduit 6. These housings 8 are elongated in form and. attached to the end of the tank 1 by means of a plurality of bolts 9.

The inner wall of each housing 8 is provided with spaced valve seats, with one valve seat arranged upon each side of the outer end of the conduit 6. Extending transversely of theapertures in the bottom of the housings 8 are the guide strips 10 which carry the pins- 11. These pins .11 are adapted to be received in longitudinal bores 12 which extend y movable cover a whlch normally closes the inwardly through the valves 13 and'up into the stem thereof, asshown in FigureB. En-

gaging the. outer end of the stem of each vvalve 18 is a finger 14 carried by a'vertically are the levers 16 having'coil springs 17 at tached to the outer ends thereof. The coil springs 17 are connected in any suitable manner to the top of the tank 1, as shown at 18.

The bottoms of the housings, or chambers 4-, are provided with spaced apertures having valve seats and normally seated on these valve seats are the valve members 19 normally maintained in a seated position by means oi the fingers 20 attached to the rods 21 which. are rotatably mounted in the side wallsof the housing 4.

Attached to the outer ends of the rods 21 are the links 22 which are connected to points on the tanks 1 by means of the coil springs 23. It will be noted from the showing in Fig, ure 1 that the rods 21 extend from opposite sides of the housings and coil spring 23 attached to one ofsaid' rods is' attached to the tank at a point remote from one end thereof, while the coil spring attached to the other rod 21, through the medium. of link 22, is attached to the body 1 adjacent the end thereof.

The springs 23 are somewhat lighter in weight than the springs 17, so that gases escaping past valves 19 will have a great deal of their expanded force spent before reaching the valves 13.

. Extending outwardly from the opening side of each housing 8 are the conduits 2a which carry oh the expanded or exploded gases.

Leading in through the top 5 of each housing 1, is an air vent pipe 25 and this vent pipe extends down through the conduit 6 and past the end of-the straight portion 7 where it projects into and beyond the housing 8. The conduit 24- is attached at its inner end to the reduced end portion 2601? housing 8'an-d leading in through the top wall of housing 8 is an air vent pipe 27 which passes into the conduit 24, as shown in Figure 2'. v

It will'be apparent from the foregoingthat any expansion of an accumulation of gases within the tank 1 will have a tendency to first open the valves 19, relieving the expanding gases from the body of the tank. At this point, acertain amount of the force of the expansion of the gases is spent through. the opening of valves 19, due to the tension of the springs 23. p I

As the gas continues outwardly through. the

housing 1 into conduit 6, considerable air is mixed with these gases through the air vent pipe 25, as the force of the passage. of the gases, through conduit 6 W111 have a tendency to draw fresh air down through the 8.11" vent pipe 25. When the expanded gases reachthe valves 13, these valves can be readily forced .to any open position against thet'ension of springs 17 and the gases passingout into the conduit 24. The force of the gases; pass ng through conduits, 6 and 24; willihavea tend"- ency to draw a freshsupply of air 111130 the conduits, through the air inlet pipes 25 and 27 The tank is provided with the usual filling nipple 27 and engaged over the top of this nipple is the cover 28 which carries the usual indication gauge for ascertaining the amount of gases in the supply tank.

. It'wi'l l beapparent from: the: foregoing that two sets of valves are arranged to retard and spendthe expansive gases issuing from the tank 1, due. tothe accumulation. ot the gas therein... An. excess accumulation of gas within the tank may be passed out through the valves 19 and thence on through the valves 13. This expansion of the gaseous within the tank. reduces to a minimum the causes for explosion, and even though an explosion takes-place within the tank, it will be noted thatth'e tank is heavily reinforced by t-herods-2' and'3, and as the escape valwes are arranged in each end of thetank co-providefor the escape ofthe gases, even in an unexpanded condition, these val ves will permit the pass-ageoi? the gas out throug-l ia tl ie conduits 24, and due to the fact that the springs 23 which control valves- 19 are somewhat lighter in weight than thespri ngs 17,. a great deal of the expanded gases will be spent before' theyreach the valves 13 However, there will be a sufficient amount of expansion to cause the valves 13 toopen against the tension of the spri-ngs'l? and permit the escape ofthe gases.

The airiinlet' pipes 25= and 27 will-have a tendency to'supply-the outletcond uit 2 1 with fresh air to reduce to a mini-mum the return of any; gases to the interior of thebody of the tank, as the expanded gases leaving the tank willset up a suction through these air inlet pipes 25 and 27 and create a circulation of fresh air to be mixed with the gas.

It will? be noted from theforegoingdescription takenrin connection with the accompanying drawings, that this type of tank can be constructed at comparatively low cost. WVhe're a tan-k is designed for containing approximately gallons of fluid, a l t-gauge platewould be sulii'cientl-y heavy for the construction of the tank and the thicknessof the plate .will increase one gauge for every tank built for each additional 20 gallons. It will also be noted that the device in its construction can be either wound or riveted and can be made-to carry=orstore--fuel as'thecase may require. p 7

While Iha' ve shown and described the preferred embodiment ofinvention, it will be apparent from the foregoing thatslight changes maybe made in the construction when putting the invention intopractice wit l'iout' departing from the spirit otthe same or thescope of theappended claims.

lcl'aiimz" 1 1. fueltankhaving, spacedoutlets atthe ends thereof, a liousi'ng the-body'- ot the tank adjacent each end having spaceduo in'gs' comminricating with the interior of the nin) tank, an outlet conduit for each housing extending through the end walls of the tank, spring controlled valves for both sets of outlets in each end of the tank, and the springs for controlling the valves of one set of outlets being of greater tension than the springs for controlling the valves of the second set of outlets.

2. In a fuel tank having two sets of outlets at each end thereof, spring controlled valves covering the passage of fluid through said outlets, whereby to cause some of the force of the expansion of gases in the tank to be spent while passing through'the first set of outlets to engage the valves at the second set of outlets, and means for introducing a draft of fresh air into the gaseous fluid as it leaves the tank.

3. A fuel tank having spaced valve controlled outlets at each end thereof, means controlling the movement of the valves in said outlet for retarding the expansion of the fluid as it passes through said outlets, and means for introducing a supply of fresh air into the gases after passing'through both sets of outlets to reduce to a minimum the return of any of the gases in the tank.

4. A fuel tank including a substantially rectangular body, brace rods extending longitudinally and vertically of the tank for reinforcing the same, valve controlled spaced outlets at each end of the tank, means for applying a yieldable tension to the valves for retarding the movement of the expanded" gases upon passing through the outlets, and means for introducing air into the gases as it leaves both sets of outlets.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set mv hand at Milwaukee. in

the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin.

JOHN KRASNODMSKY. 

